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should be limited. Additionally, the link between these research-based programs and the existing development and valorization programs is very weak and it should be strengthened.
clear technological demand. The chain value for energy related issues is very wide, spanning from nanoscience and advanced materials, to materials engineering, systems development and integration and final use, including market pull views and regulations.
Properly addressed roadmaps integrating the multiple initiatives would certainly help to maximize the overall efficiency of the R+D+i system.
It is clear that Spain has a large offer of companies related to the final use of energy which can play a catalytic role for the whole chain value mentioned above. Also specific regulation and governmental actions can decisively foster the industrial dynamism of this sector.
The research activities on Nanomaterials for energy require quite specific equipments and facilities and very often the implementation of research centers on Nanoscience and nanotechnology do not cope adequately with these specific needs.
Unless decisive actions are taken to promote the transformation of more traditional industries into this new sector and to create new high-tech companies it is very likely that the final user companies will base their business fully on materials, components and devices produced abroad.
The “bottom-up” approach characterizing these activities require specific laboratories, equipments and advanced characterization facilities which are not being properly attended up to now. It is also worth to stress the need of significant efforts on multiscale nanomaterials simulation to cope with the complexity of the many phenomena involved.
It is also worth to stress, however, that this is a global business and so in most of the cases the Spanish industry will need to be integrated into European initiatives in order to have a global size. Hence it becomes very important to establish strategic actions and alliances much before than any product becomes a commercial reality.
It is important to point out as well the need, in the very early stage of development, of scalingup the production of nanomaterials in order to integrate them in demonstrators of systems or devices for further engineering development needs to be properly considered.
In most of the cases the research groups being active in Spain in the areas mentioned within the “State of the art” section have not achieved enough critical mass to become leaders in the international scene, even if in many cases the research activities carried out have a very significant impact.
The demonstration stage is essential in this area; otherwise the new technology penetration is delayed and the capability of innovation through technology transfer is lost. On the other hand, the field of Nanomaterials for energy requires an accelerated action to prepare highly skilled personnel; otherwise there will a very important shortage of trained scientists and technologists in a wide span of new technologies being developed. It is therefore very important to define priorities for
The establishment of larger research projects, such as the Consolider programs, has helped to a certain degree to overcome this limitation. Still, however, these programs have not been accompanied by the necessary investments on infrastructures and so the expected outputs 52